Pakistani Wedding
Marriage in Pakistan is seen as the most standard and stable living form for adults. A marriage is seen not only as a link between man and a women but it is also considered a union between their parents’ families. Most marriages in Pakistan are therefore arranged. Arranged marriages have been an integral part of [...]
Pashtun Customs Related to Birth
The expected advent of the child is kept secret as far as possible. The expectant mother is kept secluded and only an old woman proficient in midwifery or one or two female relatives are allowed to attend to her. The birth of a female child generally passes un-noticed but the birth of a male child [...]
Religious Life of Pashtoons
By and large the Pukhtoons are deeply religious. The land of these highlanders has experienced the influence of religious leaders for a long time, who, after making their way into the mountains aroused the religious sentiments of the local people and rallied them under the banner of Islam against the enemies of their religion. Besides [...]
Khattak Dance
Khattak is a swift martial sword-dance performed by professional dancers from the Khattak tribe of Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. History of Khatak dance A journalist of Pashtun origin, Amanullah Ghilzai, traced the roots of Khatak to an ancient Greek dance. According to his theory, Khatak, or Athan, is one of the earliest forms of [...]
Historical, cultural background& geography of sindh
Sindh is a repository of varied cultural values and has remained the seat of civilization and meeting point of diverse cultures from times immemorial. After Independence on August 14, 1947 with the influx of Muslims from India, its culture has progressively assumed a new complexion. Sindh’s cultural life has been shaped, to a large extent, [...]
Pashtun Customs Related to Death
The Pukhtoons are very social, humane and friendly. They share each other’s joys and sorrows. Their sympathetic behaviour can be judged from the fact that they give more importance to participation in funeral processions than festive occasions like marriages etc. At the time of someone’s death, the elders of the surrounding villages come to the [...]
Festivals in Pakistan
Pakistan’s calendar features a great many festivals, both purely cultural and also religious. Others are in memory of National Heroes or commemorate political events in the nation’s recent history. Muslim festivals are celebrated according to Muslim (Lunar) Calendar and may occur some 10 days earlier each successive Christian Year. There are several folk and festivals [...]
Karachi’s Heritage
The preservation of lists of buildings identified as significant is a prerequisite to the conservation of historic urban architecture. During the 1960s, Karachi Development Authority(KDA), under the guidance of its Chief Town Planner, Mr. Ahmed Ali, prepared a list of such buildings; however, the KDA list was limited (42 structures) and confined itself to prominent [...]
Social Life of Pashtoons
Family An attractive feature of the Pukhtoon way of life is the joint family system which signifies their deep love for the family’s solidarity and welfare. The desire of communal life emanates from a consideration of economic security and integrity. All the family members, even the married sons, live jointly in a house large enough [...]
Dresses & Attire of Pakhtoon
Cotton and wool are the main material used in clothes and these are woven and dyed and made into garments by each family or group. Women wear the Chadri, which covers a woman from head to foot with a latticed slit for the eyes, is made of cotton in shades of blue, brown, black. In [...]
